One of the most followed and commented-on stories out west last week was the saga of Rolo – a German shepherd sentenced to death who won a reprieve Wednesday after a legal appeal and internet campaign waged on his behalf.

A judge ruled that Rolo, who received the death sentence after biting a neighbor, can return to his owner, Laura Hagan, on the condition she continue providing him with intense professional training.

I'm sure my new friends in Australia would have preferred the death penalty remain intact -- and maybe one be imposed for the owner as well -- but we say hooray for giving Rolo a conditional, and well-monitored second chance.

Hagan's 90-day sentence will be suspended if the dog stays out of trouble for a year, the judge ruled.

Ten of Hagan's neighbors testified at a sentencing hearing that the dog, who had bitten a neighbor last July, was was aggressive and that they had concerns about the safety of themselves and their children.

Rolo's case is not the kind of things newspapers typically write about -- dog bites man, we learn in journalism school, is not news; man bites dog is. But the reaction to dangerous dog cases, and nuisance dog cases -- from both sides -- runs deep and strong, as comments from my new friends in Australia, some of whom have gotten to the point where they want to rid the entire world of dogs, indicate.

Rolo had bitten neighbor Kathy Hardin after she screamed and picked up her baby when she saw the dog running toward her. 

A municipal judge in Arvada ordered Rolo destroyed after the incident, but Hagan appealed and started a "Save Rolo" campaign on the internet. (The photo above is from that web site.)

Dog lovers attending the trial were jubilant with the ruling. Laura and Rolo appeared on NBC’s Today show Friday morning.

A Denver Post story about the ruling, and an archive with earlier stories about the case can be found here.